Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma)

Identification & Behavior: ~49.5 cm (19.4 in). The male Southern Pochard has an iridescent red/purple head, neck, and breast, with a dark rest of the body. The iris is bright red. The female is a rich brown with whitish flaking. It has white on the base of the bill and on the ear and sides of the neck areas. It also has a white eye-ring. Little is known about the habitat use by this duck in Peru other than being associated with coastal lagoons and wetlands. The male is similar to a male Cinnamon Teal in breeding plumage, but the Southern Pochard has a darker plumage. The female is distinguished by the white and brown plumage pattern on the head and neck.

Status: The Southern Pochard occurred in coastal wetlands where it has apparently been extirpated or disappeared for unknown reasons. Recent reports of the species include sight records from Mejia Lagoon (T.A. Parker, Hughes 1991). An individual was photographed at Cocha Salvador in Manu National Park (Walker et al. 2006).

Name in Spanish: Pato Morado.

Sub-species: Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma erythrophthalma) Wied, 1833.

Meaning of Name: Netta: Gr. Netta=duck. erythrophthalma: Gr. Eruthros= red and ophtalmos= eyes.

See more of the Family Anatidae